Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-09-01

this evening. | did not come here to talk
politics, but am not going to see the record
of the Democratic soldier swallowed up in
the vortex of partisan hatred without lift
ing my voice in protest. Every American
citizen should have his politics. He should
study the questions of the day and pass up
on them by the tests of reason. | believe
in tn reason of the people, and in the rea-
son alone and not in any partisan prejudice
or sectional hatred. Our Constitution was
founded in reason and was made for the
benefit of no section. Whatever may have
been a mans actions twenty years ago, can
it be for any good to be continually telling
him he was wrong and that he must get
down in the dust and beg pardon on his
knees.
Governor Wilson was frequently inter-
rupted by the crowd who seemed determin-
ed to howl him down. Cat-calls, cries, his
ses, and even threats were used by the cow
ards in order to prevent him from defending
himself against the malicious assertions OF
the speakers who had commented upon his
speech.
Foraker began to reply by stating that
political questions had never been discussed
at the reunions of the societies. Where is
the sectional party? Is it in Ohio All we
want is that the results of the war may be
made secure that the rights of suffrage may
be guaranteed to all. The Governor pro-
ceeded and waved the bloody shirt in old
time regulation style. John Sherman
would have turned pale with envy could he
have heard his youthful disciple roll cam
paign rot under his lips as sweet. morsels
and at mon partisan" reunion. He char
acterized the veto of the Dependent Pen
sion bill as a robbery of the people, and
called Henry Watterson an internal whelp.
The characteristic modesty (?) of the man
lead him to speak of the battle flags, re-
marking that the North would keep them
as insignia of the bravery of the Union
soldiers and the South could not have
them until it recovered them like they were
taken by fighting for them. Another very
modest thing the bashful young man made
mention of was the work done by "my own
State" and Palsy Fairchild when the Charles
ton earthquake occurred. Had it not been
for the gallant and self-sacrifcing efforts of
these "non-partisan" veterans Charleston
would have been swallowed up and the
country would have been ruined. Joseph
further prophesied that the South would
be swung into the Republican column in a
few years and that West Virginia would be
carried for the Republican nominee in 1888.
The eminent "non partisan" finished his
TRADE, and Gov. Wilson was on his feet in
a moment. The crowd began to howl. FL
nally a semblance of order was restored.
From what you have heard here one would
think that Gen Lee had come to life and
was threatening this city with great army,
and that Gov Foraker was here making
! you speech preparatory to leading you
against him. can tell Gov. Foraker he
is not acquainted with West Virginia poll
| tics. He talks about the ballot box. Gov.
Foraker does not know that thousands Of
Democrats were dsfranchised by the Re-
publican party in this State, and that by
that Acknowledgement they controlled the
State. Some more about the purity of the
ballot. The Republican party comes here
and talks. Has it forgotten the fraud OF
'76. Has it forgotten the men it sent South
to steal the electoral votes of three States.
Has it forgotten Eliza Pinkston. When it
has forgotten these things then it will be
time to talk Gov. Foraker is the political
bloody shirt conundrum. But | tell him
| that no President or Vice President will ev-
er go into the White House wrapped in a
bloody shirt He talks about the stars and
stripes. Thank God there are thirty-eight
stars on that flag, one for each State, and
the one th~sE represents South Carolina
burns as brightly as the one that represents
Ohio. Now in conclusion may say if you
men of the g. A. r. think you can stand
such scenes and demonstrations as have
occurred here this evening, the Democrats
of this State can stand them.